US Navy turns over school building in Pinamungajan

The United States Navy Seabees, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, unveils the marker of the new school building turned over to Lamac Elementary School in Pinamungajan town. (CDN PHOTO/JULIT C. JAINAR)

A TWO-CLASSROOM building was turned over to Lamac Elementary School in Pinamungajan town, southwest Cebu by the United States Navy Seebees last Wednesday afternoon.

Lamac is among the recipients of the US Navy’s projects in Cebu.

Poog Elementary School in Toledo City, Aloguinsan Elementary School, Biasong National High School in Balamban and a school in the City of Carcar also received classrooms from the US Navy.

Another turnover of a school building will be held in Cantipay Elementary School in Carmen next month.

LTJG Tyler Anderson, officer-in-charge of Naval Mobile Construction 3, said the construction of school building was in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 53rd Engineering Brigade.

Lamac Elementary School principal Achilles Baron said the grades 1 and 3 pupils will occupy the new school building that is worth $60,000.

Baron said the old building previously occupied by the grades 1 and 3 pupils was built in 1970s and is subject to demolition.

“No words can describe how happy, how blessed we are to be one of the recipients of this noble project of the US Navy and Philippine Army kay tinuod kulang gyud among mga classrooms, dili na gyud unta magamit ang old building pero wala man mi choice amo lang sa gigamit (the truth is that we really lack classrooms, the old building was already obsolete but we had no other choice but to use it,” Baron said.

Lt. Col. John Oliver Gabun of the Central Command said, “Magandang pagkakataon ito kasi nandidito ang mga taga US Navy nag donate na sila ng materials. In the spirit of bayanihan, maki join tayo sa pag construct ng building para makikita din ng mga tao na hindi lang pakikigera ang ginagawa ng military (This is a great opportunity because the US Navy personnel are here donating building materials. In the spirit of bayanihan, we join in the building construction to show to the people that the work of the military is not limited to war),” Gabun said.

“I like that we were able to come and make a school building for a school that really needed classrooms for the children. Everyone here seems very happy and they are very friendly and it makes us feel good to be welcomed,” said Emily Ahrens, a member of the US Navy Seabees.

Provincial Board member Gigi Sanchez represented the province at the turn-over ceremony together with barangay and school officials.

A ribbon-cutting and blessing of the school building marked the end of the turnover ceremony.